Fine individual and collective play by a local Synergy 1 team resulted in a Bronze Medal at the first of three Premier U-16 volleyball tournaments to be held this season.
Blue Synergy 1 had victories over Sherwood Park KAOS, Killam Spartans, East Central Chill, and others in the two-day event held in Edmonton, Feb. 11-12.
“I was proud of the girls’ level of play, especially when considering the many city teams we were against,” says Don Seale, head coach. “Those teams cut as many as 20 – 30 girls when selecting players. Our roster has eight. Needless to say, we didn’t cut anyone.”
Winning Bronze did not come without lows. The team struggled badly in the second set of its match against a powerful team from Peace River.
“We stayed with them in the first set (25 – 27), but imploded in the second. It’ll take time for the girls to feel confident enough to play consistently at such a high level,” says Seale.
Synergy rebounded with a victory in the crossover match, which, as the draw would have it, was against Blue Synergy 2.
“We didn’t like having to play our sister team. That shouldn’t have happened, especially when considering there were 36 teams attending,” says Seale.
A shoulder injury to setter, Hanna Norman in the following semi finals contributed to a two-straight loss to Lacombe Thunder.
Synergy 1 rebounded with a victory in the Bronze Medal match against Wetaskewin (25 – 23, 16 – 25, 15 – 5).
Blue Synergy’s two teams are comprised of 17 players from the surrounding area, including Alix, Bashaw, Castor, Coronation, Donalda, Erskine, Forestburg and Stettler.
They host their games in Stettler but practice in Stettler, Castor and the odd time, in Donalda.